XINING, Aug. 8 (Xinhuanet) -- Locals celebrated the 50th anniversary of the founding of Mongolian-Tibetan-Kazak Autonomous Prefecture of Haixi in northwest China's Qinghai Province Sunday.

    The Standing Committee of China's National People's Congress, China's top legislature, and the State Council sent a letter of congratulation.

    The prefecture has maintained stable social order and sustainedeconomic development during the past 50 years. The living standards of local people have improved remarkably, the letter said.

    The Mongolian-Tibetan-Kazak Autonomous Prefecture of Haixi is located in the northwest part of the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau, covering 325,800 square kilometers. Founded in January 1954, the prefecture is home to 410,000 residents, who belong to 39 ethnic groups including Han, Mongolian, Tibetan, Hui and Kazak.

    Resting on Qaidam Basin, the prefecture boasts abundant reserves of oil, natural gas, borax, asbestos, coal, gypsum and metals.

    The prefecture reported a gross domestic product of 8.308 billion yuan (about 1 billion US dollars) in 2003. The income of urban and rural residents averaged 7,193 yuan (866.63 US dollars) and 2,338 yuan (281.69 US dollars) in 2003, both above the averagelevels in the province. Enditem